Electronic Cigarette Controller Airflow Sensor Signal Duration Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic cigarette products face issues with false triggering of the airflow sensor due to e-liquid leakage, leading to dry burning of the atomization assembly, as the controller cannot distinguish between genuine user inhalation and e-liquid leakage signals.
Innovation Solution
A method that measures the duration of low-level signals from the airflow sensor to determine whether to respond to high-level signals, using a state flag to differentiate between normal and abnormal sensor states, thereby preventing false triggers and ensuring the electronic cigarette only operates when a valid inhalation signal is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airflow sensor is used to detect user inhalation, then the electronic cigarette can be activated for atomization, but the sensor may be false triggered by leaking e-liquid causing dry burning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the sensor response adaptive rather than static. The controller dynamically adjusts its response based on the duration of the low-level signal: if the low-level signal duration exceeds a threshold, the subsequent high-level signal is ignored; if it is below the threshold, the high-level signal is responded to normally. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between reliable activation and false triggering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of signal duration threshold to differentiate between genuine inhalation and e-liquid leakage. By setting a threshold value for the low-level signal duration, the system can distinguish between the two conditions: genuine inhalation produces a short low-level signal followed by a high-level signal, while e-liquid leakage produces a prolonged low-level signal. This parameter-based differentiation resolves the false triggering issue.
2Ease of operation
If the controller responds to all high-level signals from the airflow sensor, then user inhalation can be detected, but dry burning occurs due to false triggers from e-liquid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by evaluating the low-level signal duration before responding to the high-level signal. The controller performs this preliminary check continuously or periodically, so when a high-level signal arrives, the system is already prepared to either accept or reject it based on the preceding low-level signal characteristics. This prevents dry burning by rejecting false triggers before they can cause harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback by continuously monitoring the airflow sensor output and using the low-level signal duration information to control the response to subsequent high-level signals. The system feedback loop ensures that if e-liquid leakage is detected (prolonged low-level signal), the controller will not respond to subsequent high-level signals, thereby preventing dry burning while still allowing genuine inhalation to trigger atomization.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method for controlling an electronic cigarette and an electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette comprises an airflow sensor. The control method comprises: measuring whether a duration of a low-level signal sent by the airflow sensor is greater than a preset threshold; if so, when a high-level signal sent by the airflow sensor is received, responding to the high-level signal so as to control the electronic cigarette to operate; and if not, when a high-level signal sent by the airflow sensor is received, not responding to the high-level signal. In the above control method, it is determined, according to the duration of the low-level signal generated by the airflow sensor, whether to respond to triggering of the high-level signal so as to cause the electronic cigarette to operate.